Friday, September 30, 2011

Love deserves a fancy party. My parents hosted a wedding dinner for S+S in their backyard, and I had a lot of fun putting together all of the details for what was a perfect evening to have a party. Stacks of the best old books from my parents book shelves, pennants, garland and the most perfect chairs from a nearby school helped make it a fabulous night for everyone to remember. Not to mention the crazy amazing job my dad did of redoing their deck this summer. It really is one of the most magical places to be.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Oh this girl. Apparently four year olds turn in to sponges. She is constantly asking questions about anything and everything. My sister saw something on Pinterest that said the average four year old asks 437 questions a day. I guess Ivy is above average is what I told her. The bus stop is right outside her bedroom window. Almost every morning she watches those kids and talks about riding the bus when she goes to school. Apparently four year olds also turn in to grown ups.

I don't want her to get old enough to go to school But I will take her getting old enough to clean!

We went to get the mail. I guess it must seem like a long ways away to her little legs.

Have you checked out the Martha Stewart line of craft paint? Uh.may.zing. I snatched up the fabric medium and I have a 50% off coupon burning a whole in my app to get the spray paint converter.

Genius.

Did you know you can use canning jars to store food?! haha. We pickled a few beans and some asparagus.

Then it was back to Portland for my brothers wedding. My mom scored this rad Disney Red Riding Hood costume at the Goodwill superstore. Yep a thrift superstore. That would be code for overpriced.

Every day we were in P+town Ivy and I went for a walk. Just down from my parents house were blackberries that we picked for our cereal. They were probably the sweetest berries I have ever eaten.

My sister has a curl stick. I used it and then I had to buy one. They are fabulous. And no I didn't dye my hair. I blame it on Instagram for making me look like a brunette. I almost cried when Ivy told me I had beautiful brown hair. Thats a sad day for a natural blonde.

My parents hosted a wedding dinner in their backyard the evening before the wedding. In twenty years you couldn't have asked for more perfect non rainy weather in Oregon. All week it was between 90 and 100 degrees. I laughed every time they talked about the heat advisory. Make sure and stay inside the radio would say You might die if you go outside in this extreme heat they warned. I thought it was perfect.

Their first dance.

We went with my brother and his wife to OMSI. If you are going to Portland with kids I highly HIGHLY recommend it. We went to the omnimax to see Kelly Slater's Perfect Wave. I had to close my eyes most of the time so I didn't throw up. I was so sea sick.

I saw this little pack at Walmart and immediately thought of my sister and my friend Julie. Brilliant!

We are back to days at the park. Hopefully we have a lot of those this fall.

In no way does having squash for dinner mean that I am ready for fall or the fact that summer is officially over.

Trying out the new instagram. I love that you can take off the frames and that the tilt shift {my fave feature} is way easier to use. Also that new awake might be my favorite filter. Although Nashville is always my go to.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Two weeks ago I loaded up my truck with our bike trailer and a bunch of decorations and returned to my hometown. The trailer was so we could cruise with my favorite bike riding company and the decorations were for my little brother. Well more for my Mom, but to celebrate my brother and new sister {in law}. Ivy talked to me the whole. way. there. I think I smiled the whole way there.

My brother got married. He is lucky. She is a special woman. Perfect for him.

They got married the same place I did. Ten years ago. I watched them and I smiled, thinking to myself... I remember how they feel.

Which of course made me feel just a little bit old. Just a little bit. I caught sight of my husband that I am married to forever and I smiled to myself. I don't feel old when I look at him. I love him. He is perfect for me.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Oh man I am getting so super sad that Summer will be officially over next week. It has been exactly what I needed in a summer and in my life. It always does feel good to have a bit of a change and we are getting back in to the swing of real life in our house. Here's a bit of catching up in my fave Instagram fashion...

Every year my in laws grow these HUGE sunflowers. There yard is the best place to be on a great summer evening. It is the most beautiful light you will ever see.

My dear Lolo came back for a visit and we got pedicures. My toes were green and sparkly and reminded me of mermaid toes.

TOMS fall shoes started rolling in in August. Hmm I wonder who would have ordered those? ;)

I couldn't decide which pair to get so I didn't get any. Guess I'll be waiting for those berry cords...

These 3 are so funny together. Lyttons birthday is just a couple of weeks after Ivy's so we had to celebrate while they were in town. Favorite part? Dreaming of how fun these guys are going to be when they are 16.

Trying out the Silhoutte as a tshirt screener. Pretty cute and it works fabulously.

Pirate adventure at the mall. Ivy got to make a hook and everything. I loved asking her what a pirates favorite letter was. She answered A? no. B? no. C? all the way till we got to the right letter.

I think this is one our last days at the pool. She got tossed in probably 30 times. Every time making a perfect pencil in to the water. AHhh. Pool days. I can't wait to see you again next summer!

We had to cut our pool days short cuz this little lady got ear aches. She fell asleep in the cart trying to get her medicine. I don't know if I've ever seen her more miserable. :(

Luckily we had a super fun couple of weeks planned for the little lady. I sent the two campers off for a week with Grandpa at Mt. Hood. She ROCKED as a camper. Ivy caught two fish and didn't want to leave.

I took advantage of the quiet time and got a few things done. I was a sponsor of Meg's Craft Weekend so I got that done. Plus I managed to squeeze in time to see The Help with a few friends after meeting up for Fro Yo. Both were super good.

I love that every one of these bags gets a book in the hands of a little kid. And I love the new updated logo Heather came out with.

If Darin's gone that means I'm working at Greenies. Its the perfect excuse to get the very best mac n cheese in the history of the world from our friends at Cheese Louise. If you are local I suggest you get some. Today.

Then Darin and I switched. He went back to work at Greenies and I headed to Portland to meet up with my fam and head to the Oregon Coast. Yay for solo road trips and 4 hours to think.

Of course I had to make a pit stop here. It was all in the name of avoiding rush hour traffic. I swear.

We went to Pacific City. I haven't ever been there in all my life and it is my most favorite evah. It might have something to do with the fact that it was actually sunny and somewhat warm. The whole day. Which is just about as lucky as you can get when you go to the coast. Ivy and I got up early and took a long walk. And I found my first whole sand dollar. I knew it was going to be a fabulous trip.

I loved everything about Pacific City. The fact that you could drive your car on to the beach. Watching the dorys driving up on to the beach. The pizza place. And oh man the best fish tacos I have ever had. Ever. And I couldn't have asked for better company.

We took our bikes and got to ride around on these fun boardwalks. I had a smile on my face the whole time.

The best one. Seriously.

You can't go to the beach without going to the Tillamook Cheese Factory. And you can't go there with out getting squeeky cheese.

Or the ice cream.

When we got back it was fair time! The only ride Darin and I went on was the ferris wheel.

But we got my little dare devil a wrist band. For the amount of times she went on the slide alone it was worth it. {think 30 times. no joke.} And those grins and the excitement. priceless.

I'll catch you up on everything else later! Hope you are all doing awesome!